Verizon recently opened up a new sale on a variety of iPad cases, with prices hitting as low as $16.00. In the sale, you'll find cases and folios for the 9.7-inch iPad, 10.5-inch iPad Air and old iPad Pro, and the 2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
These discounts include cases made by Speck, Tech21, OtterBox, Incipio, and some Verizon-branded accessories. Additionally, there is one discount on Apple's official Smart Folio for the 2018 12.9-inch iPad Pro, at a notable low price of just $30.00. This $70 discount can be seen after you add the accessory to your cart.
Today we've tracked a collection of accessory sales across Woot and Amazon, including solid deals on Lightning cables, a USB-C MacBook dongle, and the SanDisk 256GB portable SSD. Additionally, there's a discount on the Apple Watch Series 3 at Walmart.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Woot has the AmazonBasics USB-A to Lightning Cable (2-pack, 3ft) for $19.99 in a variety of colors. If you need a longer cable, the 6ft option is available for $22.99 as well. In another Woot accessory sale, the Macally USB-C to USB-A dongle (2-pack) is on sale for $5.99, and Amazon Prime members can save an additional $3 at checkout, making it just $2.99.
These are new accessories that come with an Amazon Limited Lifetime Warranty and Macally 90 Day Warranty, respectively. The usual Woot and Amazon benefits apply, including free two day shipping for Amazon Prime members. You can find more information about each deal on Woot, and both are set to expire later tonight.
Over on Amazon, the SanDisk 250GB Portable SSD is on sale for $70.67, down from $99.99; and the 500GB option is on sale for $89.99, down from $169.99.
SanDisk's accessory is a rugged complement to Mac workstations, supporting high-speed transfers with up to 550MB/s read speeds and shock-resistant durability. In regards to discounts, the current prices are between $7 and $9 shy of the all-time-low prices that we've seen for each of these accessories on Amazon.
If you're shopping for a cheap Apple Watch, and don't mind investing in an older generation model, Walmart has the Apple Watch Series 3 (38mm GPS) for $179.00. This model is currently going for $199.00 at Apple and other resellers like B&H Photo, making Walmart's deal one of the best around and a solid entry level price for the Apple Watch.
Keep up with all of this week's best discounts on Apple products and related accessories in our dedicated Apple Deals roundup.
First introduced at CES 2020, smart home accessory maker August's new HomeKit-enabled Wi-Fi Smart Lock is now available to order for $249.99 on its website and at Best Buy, with availability at more retailers to follow on May 17.
August says the Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45 percent smaller and 20 percent slimmer than its Smart Lock Pro, and Wi-Fi connectivity eliminates the need for a bridge. Available in matte black and silver, the lock also sports a sleeker design with more rounded edges, and a new August badge helps users to visually identify the device's lock status.
As with other smart locks, the Wi-Fi Smart Lock allows you to lock or unlock a door remotely and grant access to family members, friends, and trusted visitors. And with the Activity Feed, you can know who is coming and going at any time, complete with push notifications. There are also auto-lock and auto-unlock features.
HomeKit support allows the lock to be controlled through the Home app on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, or with Siri voice commands. For example, on an iPhone or HomePod, you could say "Hey Siri, lock my front door." The lock also supports Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, SimpliSafe, and Samsung SmartThings.
Installing the Wi-Fi Smart Lock takes less than 10 minutes, according to August. The lock can be installed on the inside of your door over your existing deadbolt, without touching the outside lock, allowing you to keep your existing deadbolt and keys. August door locks are compatible with most single cylinder deadbolts.
SteelSeries today announced the launch of its new MFi-certified Nimbus+ wireless gaming controller for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, with key features including clickable joysticks and up to 50 hours of battery life.
Included in the box is an optional mount for attaching an iPhone directly onto the controller.
Nimbus+ replaces the original Nimbus, which SteelSeries claims was the world's best-selling mobile gaming controller.
Apple today announced it has released Logic Pro X version 10.5 with a new Live Loops feature first introduced in GarageBand for iPhone and iPad, a completely redesigned sampling workflow, new beat-making tools, and many other new features.
Live Loops allows users to organize loops, samples, and recordings into a new musical grid. From there, tracks can be further refined using all of the professional production features in Logic Pro X. Remix FX enhances Live Loops with a collection of electronic effects that can be performed in real time over individual tracks or the entire song mix.
A free companion app called Logic Remote allows users to pair an iPhone or iPad with their Mac to control and perform Logic Pro X features and instruments. Logic Remote is receiving a major update today to allow triggering of sounds in Live Loops, browsing and adding loops, and applying Remix FX to a session. The app is free on the App Store.
Logic Pro X has also received performance improvements, over 2,500 new loops in a variety of instruments and genres, and more, with Apple referring to version 10.5 as the "biggest update to Logic since the launch of Logic Pro X."
The full release notes:
Live Loops
• Compose music by arranging and triggering cells in a grid using loops, samples, and your recordings • Perform and capture freeform arrangement ideas into the tracks area • Add Remix FX to perform creative effects like filters, gates, repeaters, and bitcrusher • Use Logic Remote on your iPad or iPhone to perform Live Loops and Remix FX using Multi-Touch gestures to trigger several loops or effects simultaneously
Sampler
• Create and edit sophisticated multi-sampled instruments using a drag and drop workflow • New modern design provides synthesis, mapping, and zone editing in a single window interface • Integrated zone editor offers detailed control over start, end and loop points • Mapping editor enables fast and flexible assignment of samples across the keyboard • Flex Time has been integrated into Sampler allowing sounds to be played at the same length, regardless of pitch • Auto Sampler automates the process of converting MIDI-enabled hardware and software instruments into Sampler instruments • Supports all existing EXS24 instruments
Quick Sampler
• Import a single audio file to instantly build a playable sampled instrument • Quick Sampler automatically identifies the root note, optimal loop points, and matches your project tempo • Use Slice mode to chop a vocal or drum sample into multiple slices that can be triggered on a keyboard • Record live samples using a microphone, external hardware, or from any track or bus
Drum Machine Designer
• Use Drum Machine Designer to build custom drum kits by dragging and organizing samples • Directly access Quick Sampler or Drum Synth controls on any pad • Easily assign any instrument or third-party plug-in to a pad • Perform any sound chromatically to create bass lines or other melodic parts
Step Sequencer
• Build your own beats, melodies and effect automation using an interface inspired by classic drum machine workflows • Create and edit patterns with discrete control over velocity, repeat, chance, offset, step rate, skip and tie for each row • Use any patch as a sound source, including custom kits made with Quick Sampler and Drum Machine Designer • Includes a library of over 150 rhythmic and melodic patterns
More Content
• Over 2,500 new loops in a variety of instruments and genres covering modern and classic hip-hop, electro house, reggaeton, future bass, techno, and transition effects • 17 Live Loops starter grids covering a range of electronic and hip-hop genres • More than 70 new Drum Machine Designer kits • Over 1,500 new patches • Original multi-track project of Billie Eilish “Ocean Eyes”
Additional Features
• The Drum Synth plug-in generates synthesized kicks, snares, toms, and hi-hats with dedicated sound shaping controls • Individual or multiple audio files or software instrument regions can be dragged into an empty track header to provide instant options for creating Sampler, Quick Sampler, Drum Machine Designer, or Alchemy instruments • Multiple additional enhancements and stability improvements
"American Idol" is one of many shows to be on hiatus amid the ongoing health crisis, and last month we learned that filming is being done remotely using iPhones to finish out the current season.
According to a new TechCrunch article, the home studio rigs provided by ABC to "American Idol" hosts and contestants comprise a three-camera setup, including three iPhone 11 Pros, a tripod and a ring light, with production teams helping with camera setup and editing at a safe distance from home.
Apple also provided a statement for the article, saying its iPhones offer a novel portable solution for professionals to deliver "broadcast quality" video, despite the stay-at-home restrictions.
We know that people are relying on their favorite shows while staying at home, and we are happy to be a part of that process with the team at American Idol. iPhone offers a unique solution to deliver broadcast quality video, in the palm of your hand, while keeping production staff and on-air talent safe and in their homes.
Apple's consumer equipment has been used before to produce TV shows and other broadcasts from home. For example, well-known talk show host Conan O'Brien shoots his show from home using an iPhone, while all of his guests use Skype and the rest of his crew is working from home.
Apple itself is planning to use iPhones for streaming broadcasts at WWDC 2020, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, although the extent of this reliance on iPhones is likely to be limited to developer sessions. Expect Apple's keynote presentation and other prominent broadcasts to involve more professional studio rigs and tracking equipment.
Apple's virtual WWDC event kicks off next month and will be hosted in the Apple Developer app and the Apple Developer website. The event will be free for all developers, and Apple's keynote is likely to fall on on June 22, when WWDC begins.
Also today, Apple added the iPod touch (5th generation) to its vintage products, defined as those that have not been manufactured for more than five but less than seven years. Devices on the list are no longer be eligible for service at a Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Providers.
The fifth-generation iPod touch was released on October 11, 2012, with more color options than earlier models, offering silver, pink, yellow, blue, and PRODUCT(RED). The iPod touch (5th generation) was officially discontinued by Apple on July 15, 2015, with the release of its successor, the iPod touch (6th generation).
An internal memo obtained by MacRumors at the beginning of last month revealed Apple's plans to obsolete the above Mac products by the end of April.
Slack is rolling out a redesigned iPhone app today, according to App Store release notes included in the latest update. The described changes don't appear to have propagated fully yet, but as soon as they do, users can expect an interface that's more in line with the Android redesign the company rolled out on May 5.
Previously, it was complicated to get to the four main things people do on mobile. We’ve fixed this with a new nifty navigation bar at the bottom of the app containing: a Home view for your sidebar, DMs, (still listed most recent first), Mentions (for quickly catching up), and You (because you’re great) (and also because setting your status/preferences on mobile needed to be easier).
Users of the desktop version of Slack will be familiar with the ubiquitous new floating compose button that now appears in the iPhone app's screens, as well as the ability to arrange channels in the Home tab.
Some of the interface's swiping gestures have also been changed, which will require users to adapt their usual navigation cues. "Now, swiping right will reveal your workspace and preferences, and swiping left will get you back to the last conversation you were in," read the release notes.
As The Verge notes, this update appears limited to the iPhone version of Slack, so iPad users will likely have to wait a little longer for the changes to take effect.
Slack is a free download for iPhone and iPad available on the App Store, with paid subscriptions offered for larger businesses or those seeking advanced administration tools. [Direct Link]
Apple's upcoming high-end over-ear headphones (tentatively called AirPods Studio) could have a head and neck detection feature that's similar to the ear detection feature in the AirPods and AirPods Pro, according to a new report from 9to5Mac that cites people familiar with Apple's plans.
In the AirPods and AirPods Pro, ear detection is designed to stop a song when the AirPods or removed, pause a song when a single AirPod is removed, or play a song when the removed AirPod is put back in the ear.
AirPods Studio will have similar sensors that will detect whether the headphones are on the head or the neck, presumably playing or pausing content when the headphones are worn on the head. When on the neck, the sensor could keep the music paused.
Another sensor will detect left and right ears for routing the audio channels, which means there will be no right or wrong side for wearing the AirPods Studio. Pairing the AirPods Studio with a Mac or iOS device will unlock custom equalizer settings with low, medium, and high frequency adjustments available.
Prior rumors have suggested Apple's high-end over-ear headphones will feature Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode much like the current AirPods Pro, and an April report from Bloomberg indicated the headphones will have interchangeable ear pads and headband padding allowing for customization.
Apple may also sell the headphones in multiple materials, including a premium version with leather-like fabrics and a fitness-focused model with liter, more breathable materials.
A rumor from this weekend said that Apple could price the high-end over-ear headphones at $349, and that the name could be "AirPods Studio."
For iPad Pro owners who have been searching for a case option compatible with the Magic Keyboard, Pad & Quill has debuted its Copertina Magic Cases, available for both the 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models.
The Copertina Magic Cases fit over the Magic Keyboard and iPad Pro combo, providing protection for both. The Copertina Magic Case adds minimal bulk to the iPad and Magic Keyboard combination, and it comes with an optional interior pocket.
The cover is made from a linen material in gray, and there is room to charge the Apple Pencil inside the case. The Copertina is available in 11 and 12.9-inch sizes, with the 11-inch Copertina case priced at $90 and the 12.9-inch Copertina case priced at $100. An additional 15 percent off is available with the promo code PQ15.
The cases are available for pre-order as of today, and Pad & Quill plans to begin shipping them out on May 17.
Note that Pad & Quill's case does fits over both the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard rather than attaching to the iPad Pro directly. Customers who want a case that fits on the iPad Pro and that can be used with the Magic Keyboard attachment should check out this MacRumors forum thread, where members discuss options that fit.
For those who are just looking for a simple iPad Pro case, Pad & Quill also offers the Contega, a case that's similar to the Copertina but without the support for the Magic Keyboard. The Contega is available in an 11-inch model for $100 and a 12.9-inch model for $110.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Pad & Quill. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
iFixit last week shared x-rays of the new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, giving us a little look at what's inside Apple's newest keyboard design, and today, iFixit is back with a mini trackpad teardown.
In an update to the original x-ray article, iFixit disassembled the trackpad to take a closer look at what's inside.
There's a single button inside the trackpad that operates on a lever system. When you press near the center, regardless of whether you're pressing the top, middle, or bottom center, you're pressing on the button.
Pressing near the top, bottom, or one of the corners activates the lever system, causing the contact plate in the center to be forced upward to make a click happen.
iFixit says that the trackpad is the only part of the Magic Keyboard that's able to be taken apart without major destruction to the accessory, so a further look inside will have to wait until the site is ready to publish repair guides.
Apple's new Magic Keyboard with trackpad works with the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro models. It's priced at $299 for the 11-inch version and $349 for the 12.9-inch version, and can be purchased from Apple's website.
Spotify today introduced a new feature called Group Session, which is designed to allow two or more Premium users in the same location to share control over the music that's being played.
Akin to a sort of party mode, Group Session lets participants select what's being played in real time along with contributing to a collaborative playlist.
Many people are sheltering in place right now and are stuck at home, and Spotify told TechCrunch that this feature is ideal for groups spending long hours together.
Group Session can be used after the person in charge taps the Connect menu in the bottom left corner of the Play screen, sharing the scannable QR code with additional users. Participants can each scan the host's code with the Spotify app, and then with Spotify's controls, they can play, pause, skip, and select tracks to add to the queue.
Spotify already offers a feature for building collaborative playlists with friends, but this new option is designed for collaboration in real-time when people are gathered together. It supports up to 100 users.
Group Session is rolling out around the world for all Spotify Premium users as of today, but it is still being made available in a beta capacity, so Spotify plans to continue refining and tweaking it based on user feedback.
Multiple sources have indicated that Apple is considering expanding its ProMotion technology to the iPhone, allowing for a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz for smoother motion content and greater responsiveness. The feature debuted on the iPad Pro in 2017.
The rumors began in July 2019 when a reputable Samsung leaker known as "Ice Universe" on Twitter said Apple was considering a switchable 60Hz/120Hz refresh rate on at least one iPhone in 2020. This was followed by a DigiTimes Taiwan report in October that claimed Apple would release an iPhone with a 120Hz display this year.
More recently, both Max Weinbach and Jon Prosser have claimed that this year's higher-end iPhone 12 Pro models will in fact support ProMotion, although Prosser said there is a possibility that Apple could disable ProMotion at the software level prior to the devices launching if it decides the feature consumes too much battery life.
On that note, display analyst Ross Young today tweeted that the rumored Samsung Galaxy Note20+ will be the only flagship smartphone in 2020 to feature low-power LTPO display technology, adding that the iPhone will follow in 2021.
I meant only one flagship in 2020 will have LTPO
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 11, 2020
About Display Technology. With LTPO, you can vary the display refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz based on the content. In always on mode, 1Hz. In gaming modes, 120Hz. Big power advantage for Samsung. Apple won’t have LTPO until 2021.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 11, 2020
Young believes LTPO is essential if Apple plans to support ProMotion on the iPhone, as it would allow for a variable refresh as low as 1Hz when the device is inactive to optimize battery life. As with the Apple Watch Series 5, the technology could also pave the way for iPhones to have an always-on display option next year.
Here is how Apple describes LTPO for the Watch:
The low temperature poly-silicon and oxide display features a reinvented pixel architecture that lets the screen refresh rate dip from 60Hz to a power-sipping 1Hz when the watch is inactive. A new low-power driver, ultra-efficient power management, and a new ambient light sensor work together so the display can stay always on with up to 18 hours of battery life.
It is worth noting that the iPad Pro supports ProMotion without LTPO, so perhaps the feature really will launch on the iPhone this year, but it sounds like there is a possibility that Apple will simply wait until 2021.
Microsoft today announced that its Microsoft Family Safety app is available in a preview capacity to iOS users who sign up to use the feature.
Microsoft Family Safety includes features like device usage tracking, logging of content viewed, and location sharing, all of which Microsoft says is designed to allow parents to have conversations with children about device usage habits.
Find the balance that is right for your family. Give your kids independence to learn and explore, while setting boundaries that help them make good choices. Kids can see the same activity reports their parents see, so everyone can be part of the conversation. Additionally, with Microsoft Family Safety, family members can manage their data and information and who it is shared with. We work around the clock to help protect your information and will not sell your data.
An Activity Reporting feature provides details on how time is spent online, tracking usage, websites visited, and terms searched for. Email summaries are sent each week.
Screen Time Limits cap the amount of time that children can spend using Windows, Xbox devices, and Android smartphones. Limits through Microsoft are not a feature on iOS and parents will need to use the built-in Apple-designed Screen Time features for iPhones and iPads.
Content controls allow parents to create web and search filters to block mature content and limit browsing to kid-friendly websites when using Microsoft Edge.
Location sharing features allow parents to see where their children are at a glance, plus it labels locations visited the most like home, work, and school.
Microsoft is allowing a limited number of iOS users to sign up for Microsoft Family Sharing, and it's ideal for those who also use Microsoft devices. To participate, iOS users will need to make sure to set up a family group on Microsoft's Family website and then sign up to test through a form on the Microsoft website.
Apple has hired multiple well-known software engineers with cloud computing expertise in recent months, according to a report from tech site Protocol.
The range of employees Apple has hired has created "a stir" in the "tight-knit cloud community," and is a sign that Apple is perhaps planning to build serious cloud infrastructure to compete with Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.
Employees have expertise in containers and Kubernetes. Michael Crosby, for example, known as one of the engineers of containers as they exist today, joined Apple in 2020. Arun Gupta, who worked at Amazon Web Services, joined Apple in February and is leading Apple's open source efforts. Another former AWS employee who worked on managed container services, Maksym Pavlenko, has also transitioned to Apple. Francesc Campoy, an ex-Google employee, is now at Apple working on Kubernetes, an open source container orchestration platform that allows for managing containerized applications across hosts.
Apple has also listed multiple job postings that suggest it is working on new tools for its internal software development teams.
Apple already has a huge cloud-based platform that encompasses iCloud, the App Store, Apple TV+, Apple Music, and more, but it is not up to par with the cloud technology used by companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Netflix.
Apple in 2018 announced plans to invest $10 billion in data center construction, and in 2019, joined the Cloud Native Computing Foundation that hosts Kubernetes and containers.
Sales have appeared across Apple's lineup of AirPods Bluetooth headphones this week, including the AirPods With Charging Case, AirPods With Wireless Charging Case, and AirPods Pro. You'll find these sales at carriers this time around, including Verizon and AT&T.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
To start, Verizon has the AirPods With Charging Case at $129.00, down from $159.00. This $30 discount will be applied after you add the accessory to your cart, and it's just $1 shy of the lowest price we've ever tracked on this 2019 version of the AirPods.
Verizon also has the AirPods With Wireless Charging Case on sale, priced at $164.49, down from $199.00. This $35 discount isn't quite the best sale price we've seen on this model of the AirPods, but it is among the best discounts that you'll find online for a new version of the AirPods With Wireless Charging Case. You'll also need to add this model to your cart to see the sale.
Lastly, AT&T still has the AirPods Pro for $224.00, down from $249.00. Although it's just $25 off, this remains one of the best sales for a new model of AirPods Pro that we've ever seen, and is about $10 under the price of Amazon's current sale.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.
With most college graduates unable to attend commencement this year, the podcast will help fill the void with a series of speeches from Cook and a long list of other notable figures, such as Bill and Melinda Gates, Becky G, Rita Wilson, Khalid, Mary J. Blige, Hillary Clinton, John Legend, and Tim McGraw.
iHeartRadio knows how important the graduation ceremony is. After four long years of hard work, commencement offers one last moment to reflect before you toss your hat into the air and take on the world. We know that during these difficult times, most graduates won't get to attend their ceremony in person. So, we've partnered with some of the biggest names across industries, to write a commencement speech just for you. From 4-star generals to all-star comedians, legendary coaches to John Legend himself, these are the words we hope will inspire you.
The podcast episodes will be released on May 15, ahead of "National Graduation Day" on May 17 in the United States, as noted by Variety.
Ever since Apple discontinued the 15-inch MacBook Pro in favor of a new 16-inch model with slimmer bezels last year, the natural assumption has been that a 14-inch MacBook Pro will eventually replace the 13-inch model.
Apple ended up sticking with the same size display when it refreshed the 13-inch MacBook Pro with a Magic Keyboard and faster processor options earlier this month, but a 14-inch model might still be on the table, with the anonymously-run Twitter account "L0vetodream" today hinting at a 2021 release. No further details were provided.
in my dream MBP14 next year
— 有没有搞措 (@L0vetodream) May 11, 2020
The same Twitter account accurately revealed several details about the new iPhone SE before anyone else, including that the device would launch in the second week of April and come in three storage capacities. Likewise, the account accurately claimed that new iPad Pro models would launch in the third week of March.
Given that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is typically only updated once per year, a 2021 release would hardly be a surprise at this point, but it is noteworthy that Apple apparently still has a 14-inch model on its roadmap.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said that Apple plans to release at least six Mini-LED products by the end of 2021, including both 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. All together, these rumors could suggest that a 14-inch MacBook Pro with Mini-LED backlighting will be released at some point next year.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Verizon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
